Indicator



Jan. 31, 1933. F. w. B. SCHORADT INDICATOR Filed Feb. '7, 1951 AT ORNEY Patented Jan. 31 1933 uni-ran STATES ori ice FREDERICK w. B. SOHbR-ADT, on new onx, N. Y., issrenon T0 (inns. CORY tosses;

TION, on NEW YonK. N. Y., A oonronn rion or New Yon-x 1 INDICATOR Application filed February 7," i s erlall This invention relates to indicators, and

particularly to means for indicatingvarying degrees of movement at a distances In the concrete exemplification of the 1nvention herein illustrated, the object whose movements are tobe indicated is referred to as a rudder or' steering member of a vessel,

andthe device on which indications are dis played is represented as a rudder indicating dial located on the vessel at a distance from' the rudder; but it is to be understood that the invention is readily applicable to other uses; in fact, to any installation wherein it is desired to indicate the position and changes in position of a'movable member.

Anobject of' the invention is to provide novel motion translating connections between the member whose movements are to be indicated, and the indicating member.

7 Another object of the invention is to pro vi'de novel mechanical motion translating mechanism embodying a plurality of linkages which are alternately effective upon the indicating member. i

A further object of the invention is to provide novel transmitting means whereby equal movements of the indicated member will produce unequal movements of the indie eating member in accordance with 'aprede termined plan, so that for a certain stage or stages of the movement o-fthe indicated mem ber relatively smallchanges in position will be more readily discernibl'e on the dialfor scale associated with-the indicating member than will be the case duringthe other stages of'movement.

A further object of the invention is toprovide novel means of the foregoing character wherein the variable ratio transmitting means comprises a combination of gear and link mechanisms, so disposed that one isautomatically rendered effective upon the indicating member at the moment the other is rendered ineffective. v e

.A furtherobject ofthe invention is to pros vide an indicatingmechanism ofthe foregoing character which shall be simple, reliable, positive and'accurate in operation, inex penf sive'to manufacture and easy too-install and adjust. r

dispos'itioirof parts a'nd willi beco me ap em on nspection' of the following de tion with reference: to the a'cfcoinp'a e objelctsand advantages if from. thense of the novel mechanism di'sclosed herein res de in the constructio and drawing showing thejpreferred embodnn of invention. It" is, 1 o he understood,

howeve that'sai d drawing; is for the purpose 'of illlustratioii only, and are not to be as ent construedas adefinition of thelimitsoftlie invention, reference being had-to the append ed claims forthis purpose. I

the drawing, vhere'in like reference characters refer to like parts'throughout the several views: Y Y a Fig; 1' is a: view in vertical elevation of a devimembodying the inventions e Fig Q is. anotheriview in elevation taken at right; angles to the viewpoint of Fig.1; Iiigy is a view of'the indicating member; an i FigAgis" a; schemati illustration of'a suitg a ble formof remote control means permitting installation of the indicating: member at" a distance. f

n. he dr ng? Reference cliaralcter 1 designates amember whosemovement's are to be' indicated, in'the present" ca eassi m d to hey the shaft of a ships rudder. Reference Character'2 is 3 used to designate the indicating member or pointer by the movement of-w'hich the changing positions o'f'the' shaft lare to be indicated, v When the mechanisinis installed on aship,

it will" usu'allybe found preferable tomount the pointer member 2 upon a suitable dial 3 in a location remote from the rudder of the sh p, using suit'ableremote control means for transmitting, the angular movement of the shaft 1' to the shafton which'the poiiiterlZ is mounted. "Such. remote controlmeaiislmay take any suitable or conventionalform, such,

for example, as that indicated in Fig. fl, and

consisting of a pair, of synchronous alternators having. their fields. interconnected as shown, so that. movementof" the rotor. shaft Y 11 generatesa current causing corresponding movement; offtheshaft 40f a motorplaced at j a. distancefromthe shaft 11' and on which is mounted the pointer 2. It is apparent how ever that by the use of such remote control means, alone, it is possible to secure'only equal and corresponding angular movements'of the po1nte132 for each angular movement of the shaft 11.; Since itis an object of the present invention to provide means whereby. a-relatively large motion increasingrat o is interposed between the rudder shaft land the re-v V tively small-variations inposition,'wl1ichare,

mote control mechanism during the first" stages ofthe. rudder movement so that rela- V frequentduring this stage of-moveme1 it,may

- The novel means employed fiecting be magnified as they 'appear on" the scale 3;" the shaft 11 isprovided with driving means such that a movement of onefdegree] of the rudder shaft during this, stage will; produce acmove'ment oflten degrees f the-pointer shaft 4 and will theretoremake possible to: "readily discern the slightest changefingposition of the rudder.

these magnified movements ofthelin dicating member while at the same'timefmaking it possible to indicate movements of: the crudder through the entire range of a single dial, comprises a sector member 5' extending from a sleeve or bushing 6' secured to shaft 1 and provi'ded at its outeredgewith a'set of teeth 8 adapted to mesh withteeth on gear 9 dur- 1 ing movement of the shaft l through an arc of predetermined length, equivalentto ten degrees of angular movement: I The gear 9 is d in turn secured for rotation with the shaft 11' on which may bejmounted theinotor 12 having windings 12a orother suitable means r for synchronousenergization of a second motor j or electrical member having, windings 1 2?) in synchronism therewith, as" indicated.

in Fig.4; With thisl'arrang'ement it will be evident that during that stage: ottherhove ment of the shaft :1 during which the-gear teethlof the sector 5 and gear 9' are in r'nesh,

I 1 movement offthe 'jshaft 1 will 'cause corresponding 'movementjof the shaft *onlf'the c pointer2, the degrfe'eof movement "ofthe'lat: ter asicompared' withthe degreeof movement of the former depending upon the pitch radius of sector 5 as compared withithe pitch radius ofgear 9. In the illustration,; this ratio is assumed to'be' tento one, so that 0116 degree oi movementof the shaft 1 will rqusually found that;.f a fter the first tendegrees ofmovement of the ruddercit is not necessary to ASCQItaIII the exact amount of 'movement closerthan within one degree of" the amount thereof, As" illustrated, there; fore 'meansare provided for c'onverting'the ratio of transmission froma ten to one ratio to a much lower ratio, the moment that the rudder has reached the corresponding As shown, such v means comprises a link "13 pivotably secured vpoint in its movement.

at its upperendon a pin :14 onwhic'h is also pivotably mounted a second link or crank 15 connecting such pin with shaft 11, the lower end-of link 13 being bifurcated to engage "and retain the" pin 16 Le'Xtending outwardly;

through a lateral projection 17, secured'to sector memberb, the arrangement being such that inpthe position of the parts shown in Z F igs.'. '1 and 2, thepin 171occup'ies theposition relative to the forked' end of link 13 so, i .which isZshowninfull lines Upon passage of the sector 5 to the left or right from this 1 positiomand resultant rotationof the gear 9' andgearshaft 11 and hence of the crank arm 16, it will'be evident'th-at the pin 14 andllinky 13 will be carried to the right orjleftyasthe "case may begin an arc aboutshaft llivand that suchlmovement will, cause a gradual telescopingcactionc'between the link 13' and pin 17 with the result that at the moment the sector is about, to pass 'away' from engage, ment with the teethof gear .9, thefork and pin will have assumed the relative positions] indicated in dash linesin Fig. 1,, at which position the pin is firmly seated againstthe.

end of therecess'ed portion of the link, be

ing heldpressed thereagainst by the force of tension spring ;21. 4 It will be evident therefore that turther'movement of the shaft "1 will produce corresponding movement of the pin 17Qal0ng the-arc indicated in Fig. l

and'this willin turn produce equivalent .angular movement of the pin 14 along the arc indicated at 22in Fig.1, since the connection I between the two pins is now the singlelink. 7

connection. Itlfollows therefore that each succeedingangular movement ofthe'shaft'l V will'produee a corresponding angular move} ment of the shaft 11 about which thepin 14 rotates; except for a very slight deviation from a true nathematicallyconstant ratio which results from the difierence in enema usjof curvature of the two arcs through which the pins 16 and 14, respectively, move. f Such v movements. will be transmitted tothe pointer shaft 2 by th synchronous means ,above' referred to.

There is thus discloseda mechanism havmg mportantjfeatures of novelty and ad vantage, and havingthe ability to'automati cal-lyvary the ratio between the indicated.

member and the indicating members at a pre determined point'in such movement and in-.- cluding the feature whereby it. is possible to even the' slightest degrees or fractions of, degrees ofmovementof the indicated mem ber andwithout the use of expensiveor com" produce readily discernible indications of plicated indicating mechanisms. j T

'While? i l ent shown is of erable value from a practical viewpoint and is in all respects a thoroughly reliable and workable unit, it is of course expected that changes may be made in the form, shape and relative disposition of parts, but such changes are to be considered within the scope of the invention herein disclosed and soughtto be protected. Thus, for example, it is intended that these Letters Patent shall protect the use of the mechanism in the form shown, or, when altered so as to substitute for the link construction shown at 13, a different form of ratio varying linkage such as a cam or eccentric workin in relation to the gear members. Likewise a second. set of gear members may be employed in place of the link operation.

Other objects and advantages to be derived from the use of the invention disclosed will become evident on an inspection of the following specification, with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment thereof. It is to be expressly-um derstood, however, that the said drawing is for the purpose of illustratlon only and 1s not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appendedclaims for this purpose. j

What is claimed is: v r 1; In combination with a rudder, a rudder indicating dial, a pointer associated with.

said dial, a shaft intermediate said rudder and pointer, a gear on said shaft, a member connected to said rudder and adapted to mesh with said gear during only a predetermined portionof movement'of such rudder and means for maintaining an operativeconnection between said rudder and said intermediate shaft notwithstanding any .movement of said last named member out of meshing engagement with said gear, said last named means comprising a. link mechanism connecting said last named member with said intermediate shaft, said link mechanism being movable relatively to said rudder member, during meshing engagement with said gear, andadapted 'to form a rigid operative connection during the absence of said meshing engagement. a

2. In combination with a rudder, a rudder indicating dial, a pointer associated with said dial, a shaft intermediate said rudder and pointer, a gear on said shaft, a member:

connected to said rudder and adapted to mesh 'with'said gear during only a predetermined portion of movement of such rudder and means for maintaining an operative connection between said rudder and said intermediate shaft notwithstanding any movement of said last named member out of meshing engagement with said gear, said last named means comprising a link mechanlsm connecting said last named memberwith said intermediate shaft, said link mechanism being movable relatively to said rudder member,

during meshing engagement with said gear, J

normal engagement between said sectorand gear and means for producing a driving 'enimparting and adaptedfto form rigid operative con nection during the-absenceof said meshing engagement, and means for malntalning a tension on said'linkmechanism both during engagement and non-engagement with said l gear: 1

3. In a device of the class described, in combination wlth arudderya shaft 1n which position and changes in position are--1nd1- cated, a member for indicatingsuch position and changes in position, a second shaftintermediate said first named shaft and said indicatingmember, a gear on said second named shaft, a sector on said first named shaftnormallly in engagement with said gear whereby .movement of said first named shaftis communicated. to said second named shaft, a link mechanism also :drivably: connectingsaid shaft, such link meehanismbeing ineffective as a driving connection un'tilLdiseng'agement= between said sector and gear.

4. In a device of the class described,

bination with'a rudder, a shaft in which-post tion and changes in position are indicated a. member for indicating ,such POSItlOIL and changes-1n positiomasecond shaft intermediatesaid first named shaft and said indicating member,a gear on said second shaft, a sector on said first named shaft normally in engagement-with said gear whereby movements of saidlfirst named shaft iscommunicated tosaid second-named shaft, and a. link mechan ism interposed between said sectorand gear and movable relativelyto said sector during such gagement between said sector and link mechanism as soon as said'sectormoves out of meshing engagement with saidgear, I'

driven memberyand means interposedfbe- 1 .tween said members "for imparting move m-ents to' the driven member of a predeter- 1 mined ratio through a predetermined a'ngu lar; travel of the, driving member fan'd for:

movements to said driven member of a a di' erent predetermined ratio when sa d dr vlngmemberexceeds said predetervmined angular travel,- said means comprising a gear tramthrough which thefdriven member is'operated during said predetermined angular trayel, and (a link mechanism through which said driven member is operatedwhen saidd rivi g member exceeds said predetermined angular travel.) "ti-I11 combination, a drivin member, :a driven member, andmeans interposed between said members for imparting move ments to thedriven' member of a predeterparting movements to'said driven member of mined ratio through a predetermined angular travel of the driving member andfor im a different predetermined ratio" when said driving member exceeds said predetermined angular travel, said means comprising. a plu i '7 1 9.' The'combination witharotatable'mem- 4 it 7 j ,8 8

rality of 'motion transmitting 'Gonnections ;havingdifferent-ratios, one of said connections being constituted by'a'gear train and I the other by alink mechanism. V 7." In combinatiom a driving member, a driven memben' nieans including a dial and pointer-relatively rotatable with respect, to each other upon operation of said. driven -member by. said driving member and-asso- 1 ciatedvvith the drivenmember for indicating V v 4 I r I 1 the angular positions of the driving member, V, and means interposed between said driving and driven members for causingrelative ro- H tation between the pointer anddia-l at' one predetermined speed through a predeterv -minedangl'e and at a difierentpredetermined {speed after said anglehasbeen'exceeded, said means comprising a gear train efiective through said predetermined angle and a link mechanism efiective after saidiangle has-been exceeded. 3 V e '8; In combination, a driving member, a i fl-driven member, means including a dialand pointer relatively rotatable with respect to I e a'ch other upon operation "of' said' driven I i I i 1 I, v

membergby 'saidfdrivingmemberand asso-, ciated with the driven member for indicating 7 the angular positionsof the driving member, W V and means interposed between said driving 9 andldriven members for causing relative ro- 1 "tation between the pointer and dial at one V predetermined speed through a *predeter- 7 mined angle and at a different predetermined T speed after said angle has been exceeded, said i last mentioned means including a plurality of motion-transmitting connections jhaving differentratios, one of said connections being constituted by a gear train and'the other by" a link mechanism. i

her and means :for'findicating the angular I position'of-said member, of means operated l 7 bysaid member for'actuating saidindic'atin'g means in increments'having one ratioto the angular increments of motion of the rotatable V member-fora predeterminedangular travel I thereof and in increments having another ratio to the angular increments of motion of said memberfafter thepredetermined angulartravelhas been exceeded, said means comprising a gear train anda' link mechanism 1 connecting the rotatable member'with said indicating means."

' {5 In'testimony vvhereothave signed thi specification. IfF-RED RICK WBQSGHoR DT." 

